Barston Blog

In England, most students will choose nine or ten GCSE topics when they are around 13 or 14 years old. These are then studied over the next two years. Some academically advanced and ambitious students may take eleven or twelve GCSEs at a time. Why does this…

Are you looking to level-up your career or take the first steps towards a new profession? Then gaining a vocational qualification could be the best way to realise your ambitions. In this guide, we’ll take you through the what and the why of vocational learning courses, explaining how…

When it comes to Christmas, every family is different, so everyone’s traditions are unique! To bring back that sense of nostalgia, we asked a few Barston College team members what family traditions or memories they have from Christmas’ past. And whilst we may be eating turkey sandwiches wrapped from head to toe in the garden and quizzing with distance relatives over Zoom, some…

If you’re reading this, we’re going to assume that you’ve already taken A-level courses and they didn’t quite go to plan – either you didn’t get the grades you wanted, or perhaps you took them many years ago and you need updated certificates. Either way, you’re not…

Okay, so you didn’t get the results you were planning for the first time around... Even though this can be devastating, it’s more common than you’d think; in 2019, more than a third of students failed to pass their maths and English GCSEs. Educational experts believe…

The coronavirus pandemic has driven thousands of A-level students to defer their place at university, with many hesitant to dive into the experience amid continuing uncertainty. But Covid isn’t the only reason why students defer going to university. It’s something that hundreds of students do every year for…

If you’re studying with us, you likely have an end goal after qualifying, whether that’s further education or career development. We know you’ve worked incredibly hard to achieve your qualifications, so now we want to help you prepare to ace your job interview. …

With over 3.5 billion smartphone users in the world and almost all of them able to take high-quality pictures, the art of photography is an utmost priority in business. However, telling your friends and family that you want to pursue a career in photography may raise eyebrows. It is…

The vast majority of people interchange nutritionist with dietitian as if they were the same thing. And although these professions are incredibly similar in the functions that they research and serve, they are very different roles. To help you get to grips with the key differences between nutritionists…

In the broadest of terms, psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour, and compared to many of the other sciences, it is one of the most modern and is certainly the most progressive. 150 years ago, psychology was structured in two core theoretical forms: Structuralism and…

Good managers are quite rare, and becoming a good manager can enhance your career prospects significantly. Whether you have recently completed your time in education or have been working for a number of years, there comes a time for most, when you hope to progress into a management position.

"Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor." - Thich Nhat Hanh   Do you ever feel like your mind is too full? Maybe you’re struggling to concentrate and achieve your goals? You need mindfulness. Why?…

What are the benefits of learning a language? From building friendships to increating your job prospects, we reveal all, with tips on getting started.

At aged 61, Olga discovered that there is no barrier to learning. She enrolled on our bookkeeping course in 2019 from her home in sunny Greece. Read about her experience.

A simple, self-reflective task that helps you recognise what you want in life and how to take action, starting today, starting this minute, starting now.

Meet Paul Dixon - the new enrolments manager at Barston College. With decades of experience offering expert advice, we caught five to throw 20 questions his way. Read more...

When was the last time you said you’d do something tomorrow?   Like going to the gym for a proper workout, quitting smoking or spring cleaning your house. Thing is, tomorrow comes and you’re still saying the exact same thing: I’ll do it tomorrow; one more day won’t…

Reaching 50 can feel like a daunting milestone, but don't let it stop you from living life to the fullest! Don't let people dictate how you spend your golden years... if there is something new that you want to learn or an activity that ignites your passion, why not…

For the past six months, we've been sharing our students' 'I can, I will' stories. This week, we had the opportunity to explore the journey of one of the most influential, inspirational and talented artists alive today... Dr Willard Wigan MBE. Everybody has said ‘I can, I will’…

You may have noticed the recent changes in the weather and the rapid shift from daylight to night-time before 5pm… we're convinced it's because Halloween is near. We've seen it written in the leaves falling from the trees – the witches are brewing up spooky times for all you…

Often, it's personal circumstances that drive people to home learning. For Mark Reilly, he lived a hectic double life. By day, he was a police officer in his community. By night, a carer for his disabled daughter. When he started studying with Barston College, his life was intense, he…

As a college, one topic that arises from time to time that makes us chuckle is the use of emojis. Why? Because some people take them too seriously. We've heard claims that emojis are a detriment to the English Language and, as a result, the nation is becoming dumber. The…

Suzanne came to visit the team at Barston College to tell us her I can I will story. People often ask me, why go back to college now? Well, after years of full-time work, living abroad, and having a family, I was ready for a new challenge.

My name's Chris; I'm 39 years-old, come from Dartford, and I work as Head of Core Operations for one of the world's largest reinsurance brokers: Marsh & McLennan Companies. I'm responsible for 150 staff members, handle a budget of 15 million a year, and in my spare time,…